UN Security Council to Meet on UNAMA Mandate Renewal

Russia and China’s requests were not accepted by other members of the Security Council.

The United Nations Security Council is set to vote on Friday on a resolution to extend the mandate of UNAMA in Afghanistan.

Based on a report by the Security Council, the draft resolution for the renewal of the UNAMA mandate has been prepared by Japan, and the majority of its members agree on this draft.

The report also states that some members have insisted on adding text to this draft about women’s rights; however, Russia and China have called for a change in UNAMA’s reporting, the release of currency reserves, and humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.

Russia and China’s requests were not accepted by other members of the Security Council.

“China and Russia argued that the preambular section should highlight other issues, including the economic situation in Afghanistan and the frozen assets belonging to Afghanistan’s central bank. It seems that China also suggested changing the reporting cycle on Afghanistan and UNAMA from every three months to twice a year and proposed adding language emphasizing Afghanistan’s humanitarian and development challenges to the operative section of the draft resolution. These suggestions received apparent support from Russia but were strongly opposed by a majority of other Council members and were not included in the first revised draft,” the report reads.

The UN Security Council meeting was supposed to be held on Thursday; however, the council mentioned the delay in holding this meeting was to receive more time for voting on extending the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).

“Russia and China do not agree with them, and the reason is that this organization has its own specific goals, which are arranged for the interests of America, that’s why Russia and China are opposing,” Zuhurullah Zahir, a political analyst, told TOLOnews.

“If the UN extends the UNAMA mission, I think it will also be in Afghanistan’s interest and could maintain a channel of contact with the Taliban through the UN,” said Wahid Faqiri, another political analyst.

Previously, the Islamic Emirate, while considering the UNAMA mission in Afghanistan important, called for this entity’s neutrality in reporting from Afghanistan.

UN Security Council to Meet on UNAMA Mandate Renewal
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Hunger, Poverty Overshadow Ramadan In Afghanistan

Ramadan is usually a time of compassion, charity, and celebration.

But the Islamic holy month has been overshadowed in Afghanistan, the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, by rising hunger, poverty, and joblessness.

As some in the Muslim world break their fast with nightly feasts, millions of Afghans are desperately trying to stave off starvation in a country where many survive on only bread and water.

“We have nothing to eat during iftar,” said Maria, a mother of three who lives in Kabul, referring to the nightly, fast-breaking meal served after sundown throughout the month of Ramadan.

Maria, whose husband is a drug addict, is the sole breadwinner of the family. But the Taliban, which seized power in 2021, has barred most women from working outside their homes.

“We won’t be able to celebrate Eid either,” she said, referring to Eid al-Fitar, the festival that marks the end of Ramadan, which began on March 11 this year.

Abdul Qadir is one of the more than 500,000 Afghan refugees and migrants expelled from neighboring Pakistan since October. Unable to feed his family, he said he cannot observe Ramadan this year.

“It’s impossible to fast when you have nothing to eat [in the evening],” said Qadir, who lives in the eastern province of Laghman. “The economy is absolutely zero. There’s no work.”

Multiple Crises

Ramadan has coincided with a devastating humanitarian and economic crisis in Afghanistan.

Around 24 million people — out of a population of around 40 million — will need life-saving humanitarian support this year, the United Nations said on March 10.

The World Food Program said around 4 million Afghans are acutely malnourished, including over 3 million children under the age of 5.

In a report issued on March 10, the World Bank said Afghanistan was experiencing deflation amid weak economic activity. It also reported a significant decline in Afghanistan’s exports and depreciation of the national currency.

The Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in 2021 triggered an economic collapse and worsened a major humanitarian crisis. Western donors abruptly cut off assistance and the Taliban government was hit by international sanctions.

Aid groups have continued their humanitarian operations, although major cuts in international funding have restricted their activities.

The Taliban government, which remains unrecognized and under sanctions by the international community, appears unable to address the crises.

Natural disasters like earthquakes and droughts as well as the influx of over 1 million Afghan refugees from neighboring countries recently have further aggravated the already dire humanitarian situation in the war-torn country.

‘I Have Nothing’

Many Afghans are scaling back or even skipping Ramadan altogether this year due to their increasing financial restraints. “Like everyone I know, we suffer enormous economic pressures,” said Mursal, a civil servant under the previous Western-backed Afghan government who is now unemployed.

“I can’t cope with the expectations and demands of Ramadan,” added Mursal, who lives with her family in Kabul..

Nida Ahmadi, a female teacher in the northern province of Parwan, says she took out a loan in order to be able to fully observe Ramadan.

“But even that is not enough,” said Ahmadi, whose monthly salary of around $200 is not enough for her family of seven.

“When I go to the market, I wonder what to buy with the little money I have,” she said.

Written by Abubakar Siddique based on reporting by Faiza Ibrahimi and Sana Kakar of RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi
Hunger, Poverty Overshadow Ramadan In Afghanistan
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Senators warn more visas are urgently needed for Afghans who aided the US in the war

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senators from both major political parties are urging congressional leaders to ensure that more visas are made available to Afghans who worked alongside U.S. troops in America’s longest war before a crucial pathway to safety in the United States abruptly closes.

In a letter obtained by The Associated Press, more than a dozen Republican and Democratic senators said Congress needs to raise the limit on the number of special immigrant visas the U.S. can process for Afghans. They said an additional 20,000 are needed before the end of the fiscal year in September.

“This critical program has already saved the lives of thousands of Afghans who served with bravery and honor alongside United States troops and diplomats in support of the mission in Afghanistan,” the lawmakers, led by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a New Hampshire Democrat, wrote in the letter to Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. “We must now uphold our commitment to these individuals and ensure that those qualified applicants are able to find safety in the United States.”

The Biden administration has also called on Congress to act swiftly. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Thursday that “even though our war in Afghanistan ended, our commitment to Afghans and our commitment to those who helped us in that war has not ended.”\

Senators included an increase in the annual cap of visas in a funding bill last year, but it’s unclear whether that provision will make it into the final package lawmakers are racing to finish by the March 22 government funding deadline.

The special immigrant visa, or SIV, program allows eligible Afghans who helped Americans despite great personal risk to themselves and their loved ones to apply for entry into America with their families. Eligible Afghans include interpreters for the U.S. military as well as individuals integral to the American embassy in Kabul.

While the program has existed since 2009, the number of applicants skyrocketed after the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021. With the Taliban now back in power, advocates say Afghans who helped the U.S. are often living in hiding and facing torture and death if they’re found.

Shaheen and her fellow Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware have been focused on this issue since the withdrawal, working closely with advocates — so far with no success — to tailor legislation to the varying needs of allies. In a statement to the AP, Coons pointed to the urgency of the issue, saying that “every day that passes without Congress taking action, we risk the lives of Afghan partners who deserve our thanks.”

Since the program’s inception, tens of thousands of visas have been issued to eligible Afghans, according to the State Department, with more than 30% of the total applications processed just since the withdrawal. A similar U.S. program exists for Iraqis, but both programs have come under criticism from lawmakers and advocates who say that cases move much too slowly, leaving applicants in a dangerous limbo.

“Congress’ inaction to honor our commitments not only undermines our national conscience but erodes the very principles America claims to stand for,” said Shawn VanDiver, a Navy veteran and head of #AfghanEvac, a coalition supporting Afghan resettlement efforts. “It’s high time Congress proves its integrity is more than just lip service; our Afghan allies deserve nothing less.”

It’s up to Congress to set the cap on the number of visas available under the program. But when that cap is reached, lawmakers have had to go back periodically to increase the number of visas available.

Andrew Sullivan, the director of advocacy for No One Left Behind, which advocates for SIV applicants, said they’re down to roughly 7,000 visas left and if the State Department keeps approving visas at the current rate, they could run out of visas by the end of summer.

“It’s massive. It fundamentally amounts to a death knell for the program” if Congress doesn’t approve more visas, Sullivan said. “You’re going to have tens of thousands of people who are left behind through no fault of their own.”

Advocates have previously complained about the slow pace of processing visas, but in recent months the numbers have been climbing and could hit 1,000 this month after the State Department streamlined the process for considering applications. The improvements have resulted in Afghans who helped the U.S. reaching safe harbor more quickly.

But if lawmakers fail to authorize any more visas, hundreds of thousands of Afghan allies would remain in Afghanistan, where the Taliban has labeled them and their families as traitors. Sullivan said his nonprofit has identified more than 100 people who were killed by the ruling militant group and were either SIV applicants or were likely eligible for the visa program.

Failure to approve more visas would be another disappointment for Afghans as they wait for more concrete action from Congress. A bipartisan effort to permanently provide a pathway to citizenship for Afghan allies fell apart last month, thwarted by larger disagreements between Democrats and Republicans over border policy.

“For two decades, the U.S. military mission in Afghanistan relied on trusted Afghan allies who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with American troops,” Shaheen, the New Hampshire senator, said in a statement. “We promised to protect them — just as they did for us, yet they are now at grave risk as the Taliban continue to hunt for them.”

Associated Press writer Aamer Madhani contributed to this report.

 

Senators warn more visas are urgently needed for Afghans who aided the US in the war
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UNAMA’s Effectiveness ‘Limited’ So Far: Islamic Emirate

Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, said that UNAMA’s activities in the country are important; however, it must present its reports on Afghanistan impartially.

Mujahid added that UNAMA has not made a significant effort to reflect the realities since the return of the Islamic Emirate into power.

The spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate said: “Unfortunately, the effectiveness of UNAMA has been very limited so far, the realities and developments that have taken place in Afghanistan have not been accurately shown in the United Nations, the focus has only been on two or three negative issues that have been found, and they have been used in a propagandistic manner.”
UNAMA’s mission is supposed to end on March 17.

Some political analysts believe that extending UNAMA’s mission in Afghanistan will have a positive effect on the situation in Afghanistan.

“UNAMA’s programs in Afghanistan are very impactful, and I hope that UNAMA’s mission in Afghanistan will be extended,” said Sayed Qaribullah Sadat, a political analyst.

“The mission and continued presence of UNAMA in Afghanistan are considered important both politically and non-politically; however, this mission should be more transparent and defined within the framework of national interests and the collective well-being of the Afghan people,” said Farhad Abrar, an international relations analyst.

UNAMA’s mission in Afghanistan is set to end on the 17th of this month, and the UN Security Council is scheduled to hold a meeting today (Thursday) to vote on extending UNAMA’s mission.

UNAMA’s Effectiveness ‘Limited’ So Far: Islamic Emirate
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Scores of poppy fields destroyed in Northern Afghanistan

Local officials in northern Afghanistan, Balkh province have announced that approximately one hundred acres of poppy fields have been destroyed in the past month in this province.

Furthermore, Sangaryar, the operational manager of the anti-narcotics campaign in Balkh province, reported on Tuesday, March 12, about the destruction of poppy fields in the Chamtal district.

Previously, the Ministry of Interior of the Taliban administration had reported the destruction of 587 acres of opium poppy fields in Helmand province.

According to the ministry, the anti-narcotics police in the provinces of Helmand, Uruzgan, Kandahar, Farah, and Nangarhar have carried out several operations to destroy opium poppy cultivation.

It is noteworthy that southern Afghanistan, including Helmand, is a major producer of opium and narcotics in the country.

This is happening while the authorities of the caretaker government have claimed that the production and cultivation of narcotics have decreased in the past two years.

Hebatullah Akhundzada, the leader of the Taliban, declared the cultivation, production, and trafficking of narcotics illegal in Afghanistan with a decree issued in March of last year.

Scores of poppy fields destroyed in Northern Afghanistan
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Mujahid: Lack of Intl Recognition a Cause of Delay in Formalizing Cabinet

Mujahid added that despite this, work in government institutions is proceeding normally.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesman for the Islamic Emirate, told TOLOnews that the lack of recognition of the Islamic Emirate and the absence of a constitution have prevented the announcement of an official cabinet.

“We will reach the stage where the current government, which is an acting one, becomes permanent. Some shortcomings remain in the legal area,” the spokesman said.

Three weeks after the Islamic Emirate took control of the country, it announced a caretaker cabinet at a press conference. Nearly three years have passed since that day, but there has still been no official cabinet announcement. Currently 21 ministries are managed by acting ministers.

Some experts say a constitution is crucial for stability in the country and said that drafting a constitution is an important task for the caretaker cabinet.

“Without the existence of law, [the government] is neither accountable to the people nor can it prosecute the people. This means that without a law, on what basis do you prosecute a criminal?” said Abdul Shukor Dadras, a legal affairs expert.

“In my opinion, the government should consult the nation and discuss the constitution, which is an important matter, and on this basis announce the official cabinet,” said Moeen Gol Smakani, a political affairs expert.

Abdul Latif Mansur, Acting Minister of Energy and Water, emphasized the need for a constitution in the country a few days ago at a meeting in Paktia province, saying it was a serious necessity.

Mujahid: Lack of Intl Recognition a Cause of Delay in Formalizing Cabinet
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US: Detention of Americans ‘Significant Obstacle’ to Relations With Kabul

Political experts said that Kabul and Washington should resolve the existing challenges through diplomatic means.

The US Department of State has repeatedly stated that the detention of American citizens in Afghanistan is an obstacle to Washington’s engagement with Kabul.

Matthew Miller, the State Department spokesperson, said in a press briefing to reporters that US officials have consistently called for the unconditional release of American citizens in meetings with “Taliban” representatives.

“We continue to press, including in meetings with Taliban representatives, for the immediate and unconditional release of Americans detained in Afghanistan. Those detentions have been and continue to be a significant obstacle to positive engagement with the country.”

The head of the general department of prisons in the country, Mohammad Yousuf Mestari, said that a number of foreign nationals are currently in prisons of the Islamic Emirate.

“These prisoners are with us for legal crimes from some neighboring countries but we do not have political prisoners. Of course, there are [political prisoners] at the level of Afghanistan with the Islamic Emirate and in other places,” Mestari added.

Political experts said that Kabul and Washington should resolve the existing challenges through diplomatic means.

“If the American side wants to engage with the Islamic Emirate, they should do so diplomatically and within the framework of mutual respect with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, and accept that Afghanistan is an independent country and the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan interacts with them in the light of its values and laws,” said Abdul Haq Hamad, a political expert.

“These problems can be resolved through a comprehensive discourse that should take place between Afghanistan and America,” Fazlur Rahman Orya, a political expert, said.

Earlier, the deputy head of the Office of the Prison Administration, Habibullah Badr, in an interview with TOLOnews said that nearly 25 foreign nationals with cases are in the prisons of the Islamic Emirate. Badr did not provide details on whether there were American citizens among them or not.

US: Detention of Americans ‘Significant Obstacle’ to Relations With Kabul
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Afghan Child Labor Increases By 38%: Save the Children

An official of this organization told TOLOnews that more than two million people, of which 50% are children, are in need of immediate humanitarian aid.

Save the Children reported that child labor in Afghanistan has increased by 38% compared to last year.

An official of this organization told TOLOnews that more than two million people, of which 50% are children, are in need of immediate humanitarian aid.

Arshad Malik, the country director of Save the Children in Afghanistan, said: “As I said before, there (is an) approximately 38% increase in the number of children who are now involved in child labor, and we (with our) work on street children program which we are implementing in Kabul and in Nangarhar we are supporting these children. When it comes to the actual growth causes, as I said, the economic situation, reduction of funding, the crises Afghanistan is facing, the climate change and also the impact of lack of banking sector operations like international trade, all that has impact in the overall economy in Afghanistan and that impacts the children, and families are forcing children to work outside of the household which deprives them.”

The country director said that after the Islamic Emirate came to power, the organization provided $200 million dollars in aid to the people of Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, the Islamic Emirate is asking aid agencies to coordinate their assistance with the caretaker government to reach the people of Afghanistan.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, said: “The people of Afghanistan are in need of help in various sectors, their (aid agencies) cooperation is commendable in the medical sectors, helping the poor, and creating jobs for the people.”

Some child laborers said that due to economic challenges, they are forced to do hazardous work.

“My sisters at home are hungry, and we have nothing to eat, so I am busy with street vending,” said Maryam, a child laborer.

“We would like to study like other children,” said Ajmal, a child laborer.

Earlier, UNICEF called 2023 a disastrous year for children in Afghanistan, stating that more than a third of children in Afghanistan are engaged in hazardous work.

Afghan Child Labor Increases By 38%: Save the Children
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Headline Inflation Has ‘Significant Downturn’ in Afghanistan: World Bank

officials in the Ministry of Economy said that the Ministry has short-term and long-term plans for economic growth and reducing the rate of economic inflation.

In its latest report, the World Bank said that inflation experienced a significant downturn in January 2024, reaching -10.2% on a year-on-year basis. 

The Afghanistan Economic Monitor report also said that the inflation rate in January 2024 has decreased in Afghanistan due to the delayed consumer purchases, reduced business investment, and stalled economic growth in Afghanistan.

According to the report, this inflation was due to the “sharp decline” in the price of food items by -15.1% and non-food items by -4.8%.

However, officials in the Ministry of Economy said that the Ministry has short-term and long-term plans for economic growth and reducing the rate of economic inflation.

“Climate changes and droughts have affected the agriculture sector and social security to some extent. We prioritize dealing with climate change and livelihood transformation through creating work opportunities in different sectors,” said Abdul Rahmad Habib, the spokesman of the Ministry of Economy.

”Afghanistan’s exports contracted by 5 percent YoY to $140.5 million in January 2024, down from $148 million,” the report said.

According to the report, Afghanistan’s imports increased by 37% this month, reaching $830 million from $600 million in January 2023.

“In the current year, one of the reasons for the decrease in exports is due to the blocking of the country’s ports, such as Torkham and Spin Boldak … the decrease in the export of mineral items also caused problems,” said Mirwais Hotak, head of the Executive Board of the Chamber of Commerce and Investment.

The World Bank has also said that the value of the Afghani has been stable in the last eighteen months due to global aid amounting to nearly $2 billion, but in January 2024, the value of the Afghani has also decreased against major world currencies.

“Over the eleven-month span of FY2024, from March 22, 2023, to February 21, 2024, Afghanistan’s revenue collection reached AFN 189 billion, narrowly missing the target by 2 percent but marking a 5.6 percent increase from the previous fiscal year,” the report reads.

Headline Inflation Has ‘Significant Downturn’ in Afghanistan: World Bank
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Afghan CSO launches education TV channel to support schoolgirls in Afghanistan

Khaama Press

On March 8, 2024, the Begum Organization for Women (BOW) announced the official launch of Begum TV, an educational television channel aimed at providing learning opportunities to Afghan schoolgirls and students who have been deprived of education under the Taliban regime. The launch coincides with Women’s International Day and underscores BOW’s commitment to empowering women through education.

Begum TV will broadcast 24/7 in Afghanistan via satellite, offering video courses covering the entire Afghan school curriculum from 7th to 12th Grade in both Dari and Pashto languages. The programming includes fixed-time daily sessions tailored for different grade levels, allowing students to attend classes from home and engage with their favourite teachers for thirty minutes of intensive courses.

To accommodate students who may miss the morning sessions, all video courses are rebroadcast in the afternoon and late evening. This ensures widespread accessibility to educational content, particularly for those facing logistical challenges or time constraints.

The initiative builds upon the foundation laid by Begum Academy, a free digital platform launched in November 2023, which hosts over 8500 video courses covering the same curriculum. By combining television and internet broadcasts, Begum aims to provide almost all Afghan schoolgirls and students with access to free education, significantly impacting educational equity in the region.

In addition to academic content, Begum TV features a three-hour daily prime-time slot targeting a family audience. This segment aims to raise awareness of crucial issues such as health problems, psychological traumas, gender issues, domestic violence, and women’s rights. Through a blend of education and entertainment, the channel seeks to engage both children and parents, fostering a supportive environment for girls’ education.

Two daily educational talk shows, “Tabassoom” (Healing) and “Matab” (The Clinic), serve as flagship programs during prime time. “Tabassoom” focuses on mental health and well-being, offering insights from psychotherapists based in Paris and Kabul who address viewers’ questions and concerns. Meanwhile, “Matab” aims to popularize medical information and provide health counselling and tele-consultations, addressing gaps in the Afghan health system.

Meanwhile, the launch of Begum TV represents a significant step towards promoting education and empowerment for Afghan women and girls. Through innovative programming and deliberate partnerships, BOW continues to champion gender equality and access to education in Afghanistan.

Afghan CSO launches education TV channel to support schoolgirls in Afghanistan
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